The European Film Market is a magnet for international film industry professionals. It runs for nine days as part of the Berlinale, one of the most important film festivals in the world (this year from February 6th-14th). Once again, Anna Soler-Pont was there wearing a double hat: as literary agent, approaching producers with literary properties represented by Pontas Agency with strong film potential; and as producer herself at Pontas Films, this time with Traces of Sandalwood (working title) already shot and in post-production, now looking for distribution companies and festival programmers… In the photos below: the exhibition building of Martin-Gropius-Bau next to a piece of the Berlin wall where most of the meetings of the EFM take place (besides the ones held at the Marriott Hotel and many other hotels, cinemas´ halls and cafeterias mainly around Potsdamer Platz).

Anna was able to attend the conference “Get Yourself Connected”, a discussion on the status of women in film business and gender equity organized by the International Women’s Film Festival Network. Following brief updates as to developments in 2013 and some examples of international best practices, a panel made up of film-makers and of leading executives from funding agencies all over the world started a very interesting debate. According to film director Jane Campion: “We should mandate that 50% of films produced are made by women. Instantly the culture would change. It can be done.”

Imagina International Sales is representing Pontas Films and is handling the international distribution rights of Traces of Sandalwood. The EFM was the first market where Guillermina Ortega (above, left) and Géraldine Gonard (above, right) could present the film project and show the teaser-trailer to as much buyers as possible.

The streets of Berlin were full of posters of the film adaptation of Jonas Jonasson´s novel, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, while StudioCanal was selling more international distribution rights. On Friday 14th took place a Berlinale Special Gala with a screening of the film at the Friedrichstadt Palast.